Letters to the Editor, Thursday, January 10, 2013

The American-News welcomes letters of opinion from our readers. Letters regarding current local and national news items are encouraged. All letters are subject to editing for length and style. Letters containing potentially libelous or obscene statements will not be published. Letters must contain name, address and phone numb...

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Montevideo American-News

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Posted Jan. 10, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Posted Jan. 10, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Montevideo, MN

The American-News welcomes letters of opinion from our readers. Letters regarding current local and national news items are encouraged. All letters are subject to editing for length and style. Letters containing potentially libelous or obscene statements will not be published. Letters must contain name, address and phone number for verification and in case of questions. E-mail letters to: editor@montenews.com Letters may also be mailed to: Editor, Montevideo Publishing, P.O. Box 99, Montevideo, MN 56265

Destruction by sword or debt?

The writer of the Jan. 3 letter to the editor, "Violent culture goes very deep" was quite insightful when he said, "Only a rational move to repentance will save us from the violence we ourselves have created."

But is it rational to expect "repentance" anytime soon? I think a nation has to reach a certain threshold of pain before any "repentance factor" can really be activated.

For the time being, I believe we are locked into what I call the Lao Zi principle. This ancient Chinese archivist said: "The sage rules thus: he empties their minds, stuffs their bellies, weakens their will, and strengthens their bodies. He always keeps the people devoid of intelligence and desire. He keeps the intelligent in fear from action, and all are governed."

Interesting that China has now surpassed the U.S. as global trader (a title the U.S. has held for over 100 years). China has the world's largest trade surplus; America has the largest trade deficit; and 2012 was a record year for deficit. No problem, we'll just keep borrowing money from them so we can buy more of their stuff. China is buying up lots of real-estate in cities like Toledo and across the country, even rebuilding bridges in New York, California and Alaska, for the government. Half the world's iron ore goes to China to feed their steel mills. Many countries are now more interested in trade with China than with the U.S.

Without even doing a search, I was informed of three southwest Minnesota companies that have been bought up by China. How many more are there right here in Minnesota? Overall, our country has lost over 56,000 factories since 2001; how many of them went to China?

You can destroy a country by the sword, or by inflicting crushing debt. America has chosen the later.